Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat today that agencies like the police, the national anti-financial crime centre (NFCC), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) have been updating him on the progress of their investigations.
“In fact, there are those who have been summoned by LHDN and MACC to explain the hundreds of millions being stored in offshore bank accounts, as well as the source of these funds.
“Investigations are ongoing and I am satisfied with the steps taken (by the authorities). Stern action should be taken,” Anwar said.
Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) had asked the prime minister to explain what Putrajaya was doing to restore confidence among the public and investors following the Pandora Papers exposé.
Anwar also said he had reminded these agencies not to be lackadaisical in their actions as the country could not afford to allow the scandal to prolong.
He said MPs should not be “too protective” by being quick to question the motive of any investigation involving prominent individuals.
“Action is taken when there is evidence. If action is taken without (evidence), then this can be described as an abuse of power or politically motivated.
“But if hundreds of millions or billions of ringgit is siphoned off, that would wreak havoc on the country,” he said.
Recently, Utusan Malaysia reported that a former minister had been called in by MACC to provide a statement in relation to the Pandora Papers.
Citing a source, the daily reported that the 84-year-old former minister had his statement taken after he was called in for questioning at MACC’s headquarters in Putrajaya on Feb 13.
The source said the statement was believed to have centred around explaining the financial flow of 12 offshore companies linked to him and his family, who were suspected of possessing “extraordinary wealth”.
The Pandora Papers refer to the millions of leaked documents put together by an international consortium of investigative journalists and made public in October 2021. They allegedly reveal offshore accounts of present and past leaders, including presidents, prime ministers, billionaires and prominent business people.
The data leak is the biggest of its kind and involves nearly 12 million documents and other records from offshore service providers who help set up and manage shell companies around the world.
The Malaysians who have been linked to it include former finance ministers Daim Zainuddin and Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, PKR’s Selayang MP William Leong, and the parents of fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low.
Anwar defends Zahid’s appointment as DPM
Separately, Anwar again defended Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s appointment as deputy prime minister, maintaining that he will not interfere with the court process in which the Bagan Datuk MP faces 47 corruption charges.
Responding to Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas), who asked if ministers facing court cases affected the government’s reform agenda, Anwar asked if Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan would relinquish all party positions after being charged with corruption earlier today.
“Of course, the answer is no. So that is my stance,” he said.
Wan Saiful, who is also the Bersatu information chief, was charged in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court with accepting a bribe close to RM7 million in relation to the Jana Wibawa initiative.
He was also charged with soliciting an unspecified amount for a road project worth RM232 million linked to the initiative.
We are live on Telegram, subscribe here for breaking news and the latest announcements.